Consumer Reports names Tesla Model S 'Best Overall car' for 2014

Consumer Reports is all about independent, impartial reviews. When they give really high marks to something, it has more weight than when most other sources do. So it's great to see that after reviewing the Tesla Model S electric car earlier last year and calling it "the best car we've ever tested" with a near-perfect score of 99/100, giving it the much sought-after "recommended" seal of approval, and giving it 99/100 in a survey of consumers, they are now gaving the ultimate award to the Model S EV by naming it the "Best Overall" car among its 2014 Top Picks.

Here's how they describe it:

Sure, you can talk about this electric luxury car’s blistering acceleration, razor-sharp handling, compliant ride, and versatile cabin, which can fit a small third-row seat. But that just scratches the surface of this technological tour de force. The Tesla is brimming with innovation. Its massive, easy-to-use 17-inch touch screen controls most functions. And with its totally keyless operation, full Internet access, and ultra-quiet, zero-emission driving experience, the Tesla is a glimpse into a future where cars and computers coexist in seamless harmony. Its 225-mile driving range and 5-hour charges, using Tesla’s special connector, also make it the easiest, most practical, albeit pricey, electric car to live with.

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“It’s truly a groundbreaking car,” Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports’ director of auto testing who oversaw this year’s review of 260 vehicles, said in interview. “You get into it, and it really stands out. It’s the very best car I’ve ever driven.”

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We're still waiting for details on Tesla's 'gigafactory' that should be able to make enough batteries, for a low-enough price, to allow the Californian company to make truly mass-market electric cars in the next 3-4 years.